Swiss legend Roger Federer can very well claim to be the most universally loved sporting celebrity the world has ever seen. Apart from his numerous accolades as a player, the camaraderie he shares with the fans makes him such a celebrated figure even beyond the realm of tennis.

Federer won the ATP Fan’s Favorite award for a record 19 times consecutively between 2003 and 2021, right until his retirement in 2022, which stands as a testament to his demigod status among fans worldwide. However, it seems that even a personality as admired as Roger Federer isn’t immune to the wrath of the fans – especially those of his rivals.

Roger Federer faces flak from Novak Djokovic fans on Twitter

The 20-time grand slam champion was quick to congratulate his great rival and friend Rafael Nadal when the Spaniard surpassed him to become a 21-time major winner at the 2022 Australian Open. However, when Novak Djokovic clinched a record for his 23rd grand slam at the recently concluded French Open, the most by any man in history, Roger Federer avoided congratulating the Serb on any public platform.

It might also be noted that Federer maintained his silence when Novak Djokovic was detained in Australia in 2022 due to his vaccination status, prior to the Australian Open. The Swiss was then a member of the ATP Player Advisory Council. And this seems to have ruffled quite a few feathers, especially those of Djokovic fans.

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Twitter was full of reactions pointing fingers at the Swiss maestro.

One user questioned the integrity of Roger Federer.

A fan didn’t have nice things to say about the Swiss great’s status quo.

Another fan had their own theory regarding Federer’s character.

One fan claimed that Federer may still be feeling the effects of his loss against Novak Djokovic at Wimbledon 2019.

Another user referenced how Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal opposed the formation of the Djokovic-led breakaway players’ Union PTPA.

A fan seemed clearly unimpressed with the former world number 1.

One user expressed their support for Federer’s criticism.

Another voiced their strong opinion against the 20-time grand slam winner, “Federer stinks, we knew that” (Google Translate).

Roger Federer and Novak Djokovic had one of the most storied rivalries in the modern era.?

READ MORE: 8 Months After Breaking Down for Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic Craves to Replicate His Final Moments On-Court in an Honest Rafael Nadal Admission Ahead of French Open 2023

The Federer-Djokovic rivalry

The Federer-Djokovic rivalry has been on for ages. Add Rafael Nadal into the mix and you have 3 players, collectively known as the ‘big 3’, who spearheaded the ‘golden era’ of men’s tennis. Initially, it was about the established superstar Roger Federer against a young upstart Novak Djokovic.

But with time, the challenger turned into a formidable champion himself – Novak Djokovic gradually started to better the records held by his rivals, including Federer.

Quite naturally, there was a shake-up in the tennis fandom – Novak Djokovic had gatecrashed the Federer-Nadal duopoly. Fast forward to today and Novak Djokovic is at the top of men’s tennis all alone, with Roger Federer retired and Rafael Nadal out injured. But, their activities still create a lot of stir in the tennis world – Roger Federer getting slammed for not congratulating Novak Djokovic being its most recent example.

WATCH THIS STORY: ?He?s A Perfectionist? ? Days After Novak Djokovic?s Friendship Bomb On Roger Federer, Ex-Coach?s Blunt Revelation Shows Mysterious Similarities Between The Two Tennis Legends